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Adley Rutschman (BOS): 1-3, 2 BB.
Star catcher Adley Rutschman — despite being on the injured list at the time — was acquired by the Red Sox at this year’s trade deadline for what ended up being the largest total sum of value moved. The premium prospect package that pried Rutschman away from Baltimore included RHP Anthony Eyanson, RHP Kyson Witherspoon, OF Enddy Azocar, and as we found out later tonight, OF Harold Rivas (PTBNL). A star-studded group of minor leaguers oozing potential.
As for Rutschman, the 28-year-old played in two rehab games with Triple-A Worcester, smacking a double and drawing two walks, and then worked out with the team in Toronto before Monday’s game. Yesterday, however, the club felt like it was time to go. They activated the backstop in hopes to provide some additional juice into a lineup that has been so elite since the deadline.
Rutschman entered yesterday slashing .251/.331/.433 with a 115 wRC+ and .348 xwOBA. He drew two walks against Toronto’s staff, plus added a 79.6 EV infield single off starter Dylan Cease in his new threads debut.
Let’s see how the other hitters did Tuesday…
Taylor Walls (TBR): 2-4, 2 HR, 2 R, 3 RBI.
Despite the 30-year-old entering yesterday with just a 67 wRC+ this season, Walls managed to launch two home runs against the Athletics — a 98.3 EV / 387 FT shot off Mason Barnett in the fourth, and a 94.5 EV / 379 FT longball off Brady Basso in the sixth. He’s now rocking a three-game hit streak.
Luis Campusano (SDP): 3-4, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, BB.
Campusano has had himself a fantastic year at the dish sporting a stellar 148 wRC+ through 41 games, and that did not change despite facing a tough Milwaukee pitching staff. The 27-year-old smacked two singles (EVs of 86.6, 97.4 mph) and later a 101.9 EV / 379 FT bomb to cap off his night.
Mookie Betts (LAD): 3-4, 2B, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI.
Betts, 33, owns an 87 wRC+ through 82 games this season. It’s been a tough year for the former MVP, but the expected numbers are undoubtedly on his side…
| BA | xBA | SLG | xSLG | wOBA | xwOBA |
| .229 | .273 | .389 | .426 | .294 | .326 |
His EV (90.4 mph) is actually the highest it’s been since 2023 where he posted a 165 wRC+. Betts was able to smash a 104.9 EV / 378 FT second inning bomb off Michael Wacha — gone in 29/30 parks — and later tally both a 100.9 EV double and .730 xBA single.
Alex Bregman (CHC): 2-4, HR, 3 R, RBI, BB.
Bregman, slashing .249/.338/.381 with a 103 wRC+, simply hasn’t quite been himself in the slug department this season. The quality of contact (.308 xwOBA) has dropped substantially, meanwhile his FastSw% has dropped to a measly 3% — easily the lowest mark of his career. With that being said, the 32-year-old was able to pop a 102.5 EV / 374 FT home run off Orlando Ribalta in the sixth inning as well as a 104.1 single in the fifth. It’s good to see him swinging it again.
Gunnar Henderson (BAL): 3-5, 2B, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI.
Henderson, another struggling star, snapped a five-game hitless streak yesterday tallying three hits, two of which went for extra bases. His home run registered a 108.1 EV and traveled 409 FT — a longball in all 30 parks — and both his single (101.5) and double (106.7) from earlier in the day were absolutely cranked.
Jo Adell (CLE): 1-2, HR, R, 2 RBI, 2 BB.
After joining the organization a week ago, Adell finally showed off why the SLG-needy club (ranked 30th in that category entering play today) added him at the deadline. He destroyed a 109.3 EV / 428 FT home run off reliever Kyle Finnegan in the eighth inning.
Joc Pederson (TEX): 1-1, HR, R, RBI, 3 BB.
Pederson had himself a classic DH night, smashing a 104.8 EV / 416 FT bomb off Ryan Johnson in the first inning, and then proceeded to walk in his next three plate appearances. The 34-year-old is rocking a .500 SLG and 133 wRC+ this season, but more importantly a stellar .850 OPS versus righties this season.
Victor Mesa (TBR): 2-5, HR, R, 2 RBI.
Mesa, a young left-handed outfielder acquired in a trade via Miami this offseason, entered play yesterday with multi-hit games in two of his last three games. He notched another yesterday, launching a 101.3 EV / 412 FT home run in the seventh inning against Elvis Alvarado. He also managed to smack a 98 EV single earlier in the game. The 24-year-old owns a wRC+ over 100 once again!
Featured image by Aaron Polcare (@abeardoesart on Bluesky and X) and adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter/X; @justinparadis.bsky.social on BlueSky)
